Georgia Soccer Park
Bringing the Community Together
Overview
Georgia Soccer Park (GSP),
is a privately owned high quality
natural grass sports field facility,
located less than 10 minutes from
the world renowned Atlanta airport.
The park is owned and operated by the
Georgia Soccer Development Foundation,
a non-profit 501(c)3.
GSP’s top quality sand-amended fields are
used by a diverse group of programs for
leagues, practices, tournaments, camps,
and special events. The fields are available
for lease to sports programs and other
community organizations. Field users
include the park’s partners, regular tenants,
and charity outreach organizations.
Field Use
The park discounts and even donates field
rental fees to programs that help economically
disadvantaged “at risk” youth, and also the
physically and mentally challenged. Field
reservations are made on a first come first
serve basis. GSP does not discriminate based
on race, religion, creed, national origin, sex or
age. Events at the park are open to public
spectators.
Brief History
The Georgia Soccer Development Foundation (or GSDF) was founded after the
outstanding success of the soccer matches at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, with the goal
of contributing to the development of soccer fields in the State.
In 1998, the concept of the Georgia Soccer Park started to become a reality as the first
36 acre parcel of land was acquired off of Camp Creek Parkway, just one mile outside of
I-285, beginning GSP’s mission to serve as a hub of soccer for Georgia.
In 2002, Eben and Mimi Hardie along with the
other members of GSP Partners, LLC, and the
Concorde Fire Soccer Association partnered
with the Foundation with the common goal of
making the park a reality. Contributions were
received from the Woodruff Foundation, the
United States Soccer Federation, the University
Financing Foundation, and the Georgia State
Soccer Association, as well as several other
groups and individuals, allowing GSDF to
purchase an adjacent 73 acre parcel of land.
Brief History (continued)
On Labor Day weekend 2007, GSP
opened with five fields, paved parking
for 240 cars, and the infrastructure
necessary to support the full
development of the complex, to be
completed in phases based on
fundraising.
The sixth field, an expanded gravel
parking lot, and improved drainage
systems were added in 2009, when
the Atlanta Flying Disc Club, the
metro area’s leading Ultimate
(Frisbee) organization, became
partners with the park.
Georgia Soccer Park August 30, 2011
Timeline of Events
Completed:
I. 1998 – First 37 Acres Purchased
II. 2002 – Adjacent 73 Acres Purchased and the GSP Partners Began the Park
III. 2007 – First Five Fields Opened for the Atlanta Cup on Labor Day Weekend
IV. 2009 – Sixth Field Added, Expanded Parking and Improved Drainage
V. 2011 – Original Construction Loan Paid and All the Land for the Park Donated by GSP Partners to Park’s 501c3 Foundation
VI. 2014 – Backstop Netting Installed Behind the Goals
Future Development
Wish List of Projects to be Completed Based on Fundraising:
I. Restrooms, Shade Pavilions, Bleachers, and Picnic Areas
II. Field House with Changing Rooms and Classroom/Study Hall
III. Storage Building for Maintenance Equipment
IV. Field Lights
V. More Fields for a Total of 16 Fields
VI. A Small Stadium
Overview Picture of ParkPark Plans and Layout
Google Earth View of Park Land
October 2012
World Class Potential
GSP is located five miles from the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL),
the world’s busiest airport, all the airport area hotels nearby. It is just few minutes
from a major modern city with all the restaurants, entertainment, and shopping that
visitors need. The moderate climate in Atlanta also adds to the appeal of the park,
as it has the ability to host events year-round. The ideal location, mild climate,
and exceptional fields mean the facility is already often first on the list of possible
venues that event hosts seek to reserve.
When the park has at least 12 fields completed
it will be able to host major events that require
larger facilities, like State, Regional, and
National Championships, for a variety of sports.
When the facility is fully completed with lights
and 16 fields including a small stadium it will be
able to host any event in the market.
Support GSP
Why Support GSP?
Because the Park:
● Benefits Local Youth
● Benefits the Local Community
● Benefits the Local Economy
● Is Family Friendly and Multicultural
● Can Help Your Business Through Sponsor Recognition and Advertising
● Is a Registered IRS 501(c)3 Non-Profit so Donations are Tax Deductible
● Welcomes Partners in Realizing its Potential to Become a World Class Facility
Benefits to the Community
GSP improves the local community by:
● Providing a safe environment for families
to participate in team sports, and facilitating
programs which improve the quality of life.
● Creating a positive economical impact in
the local community.
● Gaining Local, Regional, and National
exposure as the home of Georgia teams.
● Preserving much needed green space in a rapidly growing city.
● Bringing together a diversity of organizations and cultures.
● Being home to an underserved community’s programs, serving “at-risk” youth.
Impact on the Local Community
The park strengthens the community by helping to fight racism, in a historically
segregated Metro-Atlanta, as it brings together people of many different cultures
and ethnicities into one location, where they interact and share their common
interest in sports.
The park provides a safe, family-friendly environment for the participation in
sports programs, where participants can gain the related benefits in health
and personal development, team work, sportsmanship, and self discipline.
Impact on Local Youth
Study Hall and Classroom
One of the park’s main goals is to serve the educational needs of
the community, as well as the athletic needs. This will be done by
building a multi-purpose classroom or “study hall”, where the park can
host educational programs and after school activities.
Economic Impact
Georgia Soccer Park already has an amazing impact on the local
economy. When the park is completed it will be a main driving force in
the local economy.
Currently, the park hosts over 20 annual tournaments, each of which brings
thousands of people to the area.
The park hosts over 15 tenant leagues for a diverse group of national, regional,
state, metro, and local sports programs.
These events currently bring an average of 150,000 people and 3 million
dollars in revenue each year to local area including hotels, restaurants,
and businesses. When completed the park will more than triple those
numbers.
The park is able to reach all these people through advertising at the facility and
in the park’s social media.
Partner Programs
Atlanta’s Concorde Fire Soccer Association, annually ranked one of the top 20 youth soccer clubs in the nation, is a founding partner of Georgia Soccer Park. Concorde Fire uses the facility for practices, games, camps, and tournaments.
The Atlanta Flying Disc Club, the Metro area’s Ultimate (Frisbee) organization, became a partner of the park in 2009, and funded the construction of the sixth field, additional parking and improved drainage. AFDC uses the park for leagues, camps, and tournaments.
The Atlanta District Amateur Soccer League, the oldest and most well established adult soccer league in the Southeastern USA, became provisional partners with GSP in 2011. The ADASL uses the park as home for league and cup matches.
Outreach Tenants
Soccer in the Streets, is the Atlanta-based nationwide non-profit organization that develops soccer, educational and life-skills programs for "at-risk" kids in urban communities since 1989. SITS uses GSP as a home field for their teams, programs, and leagues.
America Scores, the nation's largest after-school soccer, literacy, and service-learning program uses the park for its annual fundraising tournaments and calls GSP home when they bring their several hundred local students together for festivals and tournaments.
The Luke Project, aka Luke Sports, operates a soccer league for seven local charter schools. Over 600 students, parents, faculty and volunteers participate in LukeSports on a weekly basis. The schools use GSP as their home soccer facility,
Outreach Tenants (continued)
Tiger Soccer Club is a team of hard-working volunteers who are
dedicated to providing a high quality athletic environment for the
youth in the Southwest Atlanta area. They are affiliated with the
Young Family YMCA.
Diamonds and Pearls FC is the only exclusively all female Soccer Club located on the Southside of Atlanta. DPFC is a competitive soccer association centered on education, enrichment and empowerment of girls ages 6-16 from various economic and social backgrounds.
Alianza Soccer Club aims to create the interest in young people
to participate in soccer programs with the goal of keeping them
away from other less healthy activities and to help form good
people, with discipline and respect to their parents, team players,
coaches and opposite teams.
Anchor Tenants
La Liga de los Suenos, GSP’s most regular tenant, is a successful and family friendly local Hispanic soccer program for youth and adults. La Liga hosts their leagues and tournaments at the park almost every weekend, mostly on Sundays.
Woodward Academy is the largest independent day school in the continental United States, and uses GSP for after school activities, practices, games, and tournaments.
USA Ultimate is the governing body for the sport of Ultimate (Frisbee) in the United States, and uses GSP to host its regional and national tournaments, national team tryouts and camps.
Tenants
US Club Soccer’s Elite Clubs National League, (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States. GSP hosts Concorde Fire’s ECNL training sessions and matches.
The US Youth Soccer Region III Premier League provides an opportunity for the most competitive teams in Region III (South) to play each other on a scheduled basis. The league will be comprised of boys and girls in the age groups of Under-14 through Under-18, and uses GSP for matches.
The United States Soccer Federation’s Development Academy is a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the top youth clubs around the country to provide the best youth players in the U.S. with an every day environment designed to produce the next generation of National Team players. GSP is host to Concorde Fire’s DA teams home matches.
Tenants (continued)
Georgia State Soccer Association uses GSP to host annual matches and tournaments including the Publix Atlanta Cup.
The Southern Soccer Academy, one of Metro Atlanta’s largest youth soccer organizations (formed from a merger of Westside clubs including Cobb FC) uses GSP to host its annual tournament in February.
The Gwinnett Soccer Association, (GSA) is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the promotion and development of soccer in and around Gwinnett County, and uses GSP to host matches and its annual tournament and college showcase.
Tenants (continued)
The Latin American Association helps Latino families
achieve their aspirations for their academic, social and
economic advancement. The host the Copa Univision
aka Copa Latina annual soccer tournament at GSP.
AGERA /
SENCAD
The Atlanta Gambian Emergency Relief Association and the Senegalese Community for Aid and Development host their annual Independence Day Soccer Tournaments and an African Cup at GSP each year.
The Asian Pacific American Coalition hosts an annual
Asian Cup at GSP, where local amateur “national teams”,
representing a variety of local Asian American
countries/communities, all come together to compete in a
soccer tournament and celebrate their native cultures.
Tenants (continued)
Atlanta’s Clan Na nGael is an Irish American sports organization that uses GSP to host its annual Peach Cup each Summer, as well as league games for Men’s and Women’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, and Camogie.
Viet My, Atlanta’s leading Vietnamese Soccer Club, hosts a annual national Viet Cup soccer tournament at GSP, where a variety of Vietnamese American communities are represented.
VIET MY
Fugees Family, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to working with child survivors of war. They build upon the power of soccer to galvanize these kids by giving them the support and structure they need to realize their vast potential. They plan annual fundraising tournaments at GSP and their youth teams visit the park for league and tournament matches.
Board of Directors
Eben Hardie, Chairman,
Professional Affiliation: Hardie Real Estate Group, Inc.
Larry Lord, Secretary / Treasurer
Professional Affiliation: Working Buildings, Inc.
Adam Fuller, Board Member
Professional Affiliation: Express Oil Change, Inc.
Steve Gaultney, Board Member
Professional Affiliation: Gaultney Development, Inc.
Boris Jerkunica, Board Member
Professional Affiliation: Atlanta Silverbacks, Inc.
Gregg Blasingame, Board Member
Professional Affiliation: Concorde Fire Soccer Association, Inc.
Jerome Connell, Board Member
Professional Affiliation: Eye Wonder, Inc.
Jay Leslie, Board Member
Professional Affiliation: Atlanta Land Group, Inc.
Partner and Sponsor Opportunities
Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a partner or sponsor of
the park.
• Sponsor Signage and Field Banners are available for advertising at
the park and in GSP’s social media.
Other options include:
• Field Naming Rights
• Program Partnerships
• Hotel Sponsorships
•Business Sponsorships
•Building Naming Rights
•Park Naming Rights
There is an adjacent 15 Acre Parcel of Land For Sale
that is now zoned light commercial.
We would be happy to help someone develop that
parcel into a something that would be a good neighbor
for our park, like a community center, school, block of
office condos, sports academy or even a professional
sports team headquarters.
Neighboring Land Opportunity
Contact Information
For all inquiries, please contact:
Tom Deaver GSP Executive Director(404) 992-4928 [email protected]
Please check out GSP on Facebook and the park’s website for more information, photos, and event calendar at:
www.georgiasoccerpark.com
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